International Sport Coaching Journal, 2016, 3, 97 -99 http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2015-0108 © 2016 Human Kinetics, Inc. RESOURCE REVIEWS Enzo Calzaghe: A Fighting Life Enzo Calzaghe with Michael Pearlman. (2012). Great Northern. 254 pages, £16.99 (GBP), hardcover, ASIN B00N99OJ3I. Reviewed by Matt Emmett, Settle, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom. Despite never lacing up the gloves in the ring, Enzo ‘busking’ Enzo travelled across Europe and settled Calzaghe is the most decorated trainer-coach in the his- in Amsterdam. After 6 months he was still homeless, tory of British boxing. He successfully guided his son, severely malnourished, and penniless but refused to Joe Calzaghe, through a 16 year undefeated professional return home a failure. Enzo’s next step took him back to boxing career (46 – 0), holding world championships in 2 England, he persuaded the captain of a tomato boat in the separate weight divisions (Super middleweight and Light port of Rotterdam into allowing him to sail to London! heavyweight). Joe is the longest reigning Super middle- Arriving in London Enzo then walked 108 miles to a weight champion in history (1997 to 2009), with victories relative’s home in Bournemouth. Enzo gets married and over boxing legends including, Chris Eubank, Bernard has three children. He works as a bus conductor during Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. Enzo also lead stablemate the day and also holds down a second job working nights fighters, Gavin Rees and Enzo Maccarinelli to world titles in a cider factory to support his young family. At the age in their respective weight divisions all from his modest of 9 his son Joe is bullied at school and in an attempt to training base, the Newbridge Boxing Club in Newbridge, defend himself is desperate to take up boxing. Enzo starts South Wales. A Fighting Life shares Enzo’s extraordinary teaching his son to box by rolling up carpet and using it life story; his unconventional rise to coaching success as punching bag. Enzo then meets Paul, the owner of a and how he nurtured his son into a boxing legend. The local boxing gym. Paul invites Enzo and Joe to the gym, purpose of this review is to offer insight into Enzo’s life and it is here where the Calzaghe’s journey to boxing and career, presenting key lessons learned and points of success really begins. reflection for coaches. Lesson #1: Enthusiasm An Unusual Path to Coaching for Learning Enzo Calzaghe was born January 1, 1949 in Sardinia, Upon entering Newbridge Boxing Gym for the first time, Italy. He was raised by working class parents and spent Enzo recalls the experience, his childhood living in Italy and England. Enzo was bul- lied at school and as a result only completed seven years There was something I couldn’t quiet put my finger of formal education. He started full time work at the age on but I felt very comfortable watching the guys of 13 and drifted through a series of manual jobs. At 15 doing the pad work, skipping, and the heavy bag…. Enzo discovered music and joined his uncle’s band, ‘The within a couple of weeks Paul started showing me Reindeers’. He dreamed of becoming a rock star and the basics and I became an assistant. It was all new travelling the world. In his teenage years Enzo became to me and I was genuinely fascinated. I tried to be in involved with drugs and alcohol, and spent most of his the boxing gym as much as I could, learning a new nights ‘gigging’ whilst drunk and high. craft. Paul never tried to curb my instincts and never At 18 Enzo decided to leave Sardinia to pursue his got territorial about things. (p. 97) dream, arriving in Rome with nothing but his guitar and the clothes on his back. After spending some time Through my own coaching experiences as a non- playing tennis coach (at a number of levels; club, colle- giate and now performance) both in the United Kingdom and the United States I have repeatedly encountered a Matt Emmett earned a bachelor’s degree in Sport Coaching from guarded perception that playing experience is a prereq- Leeds Metropolitan University, England, and a master’s of arts uisite of high performance coaching. Subsequently, I degree in Sport Psychology from California State University, believe this prevailing mind-set is restricting coaching Fresno. Despite never playing tennis, he served as head men’s opportunities to a select group (former professional tennis coach at Cosumnes River College and assistant men’s athletes). Also my experience as a coaching scientist has tennis coach at California State University, Fresno. He is now strengthened my belief that playing and coaching are based in England, and is the coach of Will Roberts, a British two entirely different skills. With this in mind I believe junior tennis prospect. stakeholders within the coaching profession (employers, 97 98 Emmett team managers, athletic directors, head coaches, coach Joe turned the whole thing into a positive. It’s his educators etc.) should never stifle a person’s desire to belief that if he’d won a medal at Barcelona and coach, especially those who have never played the sport come back a superstar he might have lost his hunger. they aspire to teach. An enthusiasm for learning (and not It fuelled the fire, made him even more determined the ability to play the sport) is the quality we should be to prove to everyone he was going all the way to the championing in the next generation of coaches. top. (p. 109) Quality coaches understand their responsibilities Lesson #2: Simplicity are far wider than just teaching skills and strategies. They actively take on multiple roles in the lives of their For the first 20 years of Joe’s boxing career, Enzo was athletes, none more important than that of a mentor. Joe’s main sparring partner, Enzo explains, Coaches should teach their athletes that adversity is an unavoidable and necessary part of life. Helping them I had never boxed, it sounds ridiculous but it just understand the importance of personal choice (it is how worked: I would try and make difficult angles for Joe you choose to view the situation and respond that mat- to aim at and would just ‘paw’ at him sometimes to ters, and not the adversity itself) is a valuable lesson for keep him on is toes. That worked for us for nearly a any athlete. Teaching and instilling characteristics of a quarter of a century. (p. 96) mentally tough performer will improve the experiences Coaches should always keep in mind that each athlete of your athletes on and off the field of play. is unique, possessing different talents and needs. Coaches should be prepared to adapt their skills to best serve the Lesson #5: Reflection needs of the individual. Coaches should be open to work- ing on a ‘trial and error’ basis until they establish what Joe’s opportunity to fight for the World Boxing Organiza- works best for each athlete. If it works then stick with it tion (WBO) Super Middleweight Championship came on and don’t be afraid to keep it simple. October 11, 1997 against Chris Eubank. Enzo explains how events leading up to the fight influenced the way he Lesson #3: Know Your Athletes prepared for future bouts. As a trainer I’ve never overly concerned myself As Joe became more assured in the ring, Enzo was also with watching film of the opponent. The reason I growing in confidence as a coach. stopped doing that was after the Eubank experience. I became a tough taskmaster on Joe during his teen- When I knew it was him I got a pile of video tapes age years because this was his dream and I pushed and watched him religiously. I drove myself mad him as hard as I could toward it. I’d make him run in overanalysing, it caused me to panic and put doubt the snow or do an extra 50 push ups, even when he in my mind. (p. 127) would say that he didn’t want to. At that time ‘you’ll Furthermore, Enzo explains how fight night turned out never be a champion unless you…’ was one of my to be a steep learning curve: favourite catchphrases. (p. 101) I got everything wrong in terms of preparation. We Enzo understood Joe’s internal desire (to become a arrived too early and worked too much on the pads. world champion) and learned that referencing this was Joe was expending far too much energy. I was a the most effective way to motivate him in the moment bundle of nerves and could tell I was really annoy- (during a tough exercise) and on a day to day basis. ing Joe, I should have left him on his own. (p. 127) Regardless of the sport coaches need to understand what intrinsically motivates their athletes. The most effective In the coaching profession there is no better teacher way to find out is to spend time with your athletes (outside than experience; learning by doing. Coaches are advised of the practice and completion settings). Get to know to formulate strategies to enhance the quality of their them as people first, and use their insights to tailor your reflection. Taking the time to do so provides the oppor- motivational strategies. tunity for a deeper understanding of the coaching process and when carried out (critically and systematically) can improve future coaching action. Lesson #4: Teach Mental Toughness In 1992 Joe and Enzo were working toward qualification Lesson #6: Build Trust for the Barcelona Olympic Games.